The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-09-25

N WI
MAYOR GLEASON.
stands in the shadow Of the safe. But who
kicks that dog kicks Long Island City and who
upsets that flour sack spills the archives Of
Long Island City.
Long Island City is aituated across the East
River from New York, and consists Of forty
thousand people, numerous and odofous oil
works, some fertilizer factories. and Mayor
Patrick ]. Gleason. OF all Of which Patrick ].
Gleason is the biggest part.
Besides crude oil and bone mills. Long Island
City smells chiefly OF official corruption. 1t ia
this same corruption, or the public spirit
aroused by 1t. that created Patrick J. Gleason
and made him the unique and picturesque
figure that he now is in the place.
He is a great, big, whole-souled, hearty.
honest Tipperary lad who came over whom q
boy. and stood on the Astor House steps and
wondered what in creation he was going to do
for living. The smoke Of a big fire in Brook
Ign drew him across the East River. and he
fell in with a $5-a-week Job at an old hotel
there before the fire was out. He went to the
war. and after 1t was over settled down
awhile in WllliamsburRh. where he ran for
tho Assembly. and then went to Long
Island City. which wasn't Long Island City
then. and began to build horse railroads. He
used to build a line into tho country and then
get people to live along 1t BY paying them $50
for the first year they were there. or by giving
them free passes over the road. After awhile
he had tho town grfdironed with roads. He
has sold q good many OF them. 6teinway. the
piano man, having purchased an assortment,
but he still owns some and runs them. He
1aadarahfp IN IN \ e
ward by virtue Of his muscle. and even
lately he has not hesitated to mako
his sturdy right arm back his claims.
but he asserts that he never picked .
quarrel with man or struck one that did not
strike him first OF late years people who are
acquainted with him have rather fallen out Of
the habit Of striking him first. and his existence
Is physically peaceful and happy. Once the
Sheriff Of Kings county hit him with water
pitcher. The Sheriffs injuries were not fatal,
but he never did 1t again.
The odor Of the official rottenness Of the city
first disturbed the olfactorles Of Mr.. Gleason
about five years ago. He was plain Paddy
Gleason then, but he was honest. and he said
II he was elected Alderman he'd open the
books and turn tho rascals out. Being elected
he made gallant and considerably successful
endeavors to keep his promise, and now he 10
Mayor. and rides around in yellow dog cart,
with an embroidered lap robe. behind q spank
ing little trotter.
THE oAMIHs ARE FOB GLEASON.
Around Hunters Point where he lives. every
little gamin, as the Mayor drives past. rushes
out into the street yelling:
"Hil vi! Hurrah for Paddy Gle-e-as'nl" and
the ragged and dirty little girls lay the family
baby down on the sidewalk so they can wave
their aprons and shrek:
"Hooray fr Paddy Gleas'nl"
On these Mayor Gleason frowns and says:
"Ah, get out o me way or Ill gi ye the whipl"
Further along toward Astoria, where he Is
not 80 familiar figure, the urchins cry:
"Hurrah for the Mayorl" and sling their hats
in the air as he passes. To these the Mayor
waves his whip grandly and replies:
Hello. byes" Or II they are very small or
there are some girls in the group he says:
How are We. me babiesl"
All the street car drivers give q military
salute as the yellow dog cart passes, and in
the mills and factories the men shout Hur-
rahp and the girls run to the windows and
wave their handkerchiefs when the Mayor
goes bv. The solid citizens bow respectfully
as his Honor's trotter kicks up the dust In
passing them, and tho ladies' bless them. they
always look out Of tho corner Of their eye for
a true Irish smile as the embroidered lap robe
flashes past. for Mayor Gleason is a bachelor.
and model one, too In that he has bow and
Good day. madam" for them all alike, re-
CARELESS OF age or beauty.
His best friends are the children. though. II
any street gamin fails TO properly salute the
Mayors yellow cart all the other gamins
promptly and thoroughly thrash him. When
he runs or Office he goes around to the difrer-
ent schools. and as soon as he enters all tho
children lump up and give him three cheers.
This used to be ysry unpleasant for the teach
Irishman, but they have got over 1t lately,
and vote for him themselves sometimes.
THE FIRsT RAsCALITY FOUND.
Mr.. Gleason became Alderman at the time
its prime. He insisted on, having the clty's ao-
counts investigated. and the first discovery
sa Rs on Ssed so
q Jolly good fellow about the Metropolitan Ho-
tel In this city. habitually paid his expenses by
issue was finally fixed at about Si0s,oO0, and
seS S fs for sf Ss bs q S
cred, AS the fraud developed he and the other
Ss GLEASON Ssa to the Mayors srs S Sas sy snd
ew rends h the sp ct aoT ard %ses
they, were tired Of their Job and had concluded
TO deliver the Mayor over to the Sheriff
DeBcvoise protested that he had been unfairly
trapped, but II did no good. and Gleason forth
over to the Sheriff. There he remained for
nearly three Years, the city meantime recover,
bonds. and two Of the indictments being tried
and he acquitted. He had no means Of meet
ing the judgment, and would have lain In jail
till doomsdsy or death but for tho passage Of
ErastuB, Wiman's law for the relief Of I'm
debtors, under the provisions OF
which he was released and went to live with
his wtie's relations In Brooklyn. The other
two indictments still remain untried, but II Is
not supposed that he Will ever be arraiRned.
Island for two hundred years. Tho handsome
homestead OF the family was In sight OF the
while IN jail - .. -. =
la siS Sa is: &: ;;; ::s:s